UK Tamil university societies condemn Jaffna student attack

British Tamil students from across the United Kingdom have released a joint statement, denouncing the attack on the secretary of the Jaffna University Student Union.

In a statement released on Saturday, student organisations deplored the “brutal act of violence that seeks to terrorise Tamil youth”, after Paramalingam Tharsananth was assaulted by a gang, alleged to have been linked with Sri Lankan army intelligence.

The student was due to speak at a remembrance event in Jaffna University, marking three years since the massacre at Mullaivaikkal.

Signed by 12 British university Tamil societies and the Tamil Youth Organisation UK, the statement goes on to say,

“The attack marks yet another attempt by the Sri Lankan state, through intimidation, aggression and sheer violence, to deny Tamils the very basic of rights – the right to mourn our dead.

Justice is paramount. However, reflecting on over sixty years of genocide faced by the Tamil nation, we view this attack as another in that continuum. We note with dismay and abhorrence that it will no doubt be met with injustice and impunity.

Our thoughts are with our brothers and sisters in the North-East who continue to face this genocide today.”

See the full statement and list of signatories below.

British Tamil youth condemn the attack on Paramalingam Tharsananth – the secretary of Jaffna University Student Union

“On this day of remembrance, as Tamils around the world come together to mourn the genocide of 2009, a brutal attack was launched on a Tamil student at the University of Jaffna.

Paramalingam Tharsananth, a third year student at the Faculty of Art, and the Secretary of the Jaffna University Student Union, was attacked with iron bars by a gang widely believed to be linked to the Sri Lankan Army’s intelligence unit. He has been admitted to hospital with serious head injuries.

Defying the Sri Lankan military’s orders prohibiting the marking of the massacre at Mullaivaikkal, Paramalingam Tharsananth, along with his fellow students had organised a remembrance event at the university, and was due to address it, before he was attacked.

We the undersigned Tamil youth and student organisations of the UK, condemn and deplore this brutal act of violence that seeks to terrorise Tamil youth in the North-East of the island of Sri Lanka.

The attack marks yet another attempt by the Sri Lankan state, through intimidation, aggression and sheer violence, to deny Tamils the very basic of rights – the right to mourn our dead.

Justice is paramount. However, reflecting on over sixty years of genocide faced by the Tamil nation, we view this attack as another in that continuum. We note with dismay and abhorrence that it will no doubt be met with injustice and impunity.

Our thoughts are with our brothers and sisters in the North-East who continue to face this genocide today.”

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Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO) of United Kingdom is a non profit organisation established on the 22nd November 2004 and is an establishment that focuses on uniting the Tamil youths across the UK and to help promote & understand our unique language, history, culture and identity.